The Poolesville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a community rally to support reopening White’s Ferry on Tuesday, December 30, at 2 p.m. The rally marks the fifth anniversary of the ferry’s closure and aims to highlight its importance to local businesses and the regional economy.
White’s Ferry has been closed since December 28, 2020, following a Loudoun County Circuit Court ruling that determined no public landing exists on the Virginia shoreline, preventing the ferry from legally docking. Despite multiple attempts by the ferry owners, local governments, and the State of Maryland to resolve the dispute, no binding agreement has been reached to restore service.
Additional background on White’s Ferry closure: In April 2025, Montgomery County, the Town of Poolesville, and state officials described what they called a final effort to reopen the ferry, offering a $3 million financial incentive to the ferry operator, Potomac Crossing LLC, and Virginia landowner Rockland Farm LLC. The proposal required a signed agreement by July 1, 2026, along with a firm reopening date and a plan for how the funds would be used for property rights, equipment, or capital improvements. The incentive package included $1.5 million from the State of Maryland’s FY26 budget and $1.5 million from Montgomery County, with participation from Poolesville.
In 2024, the Kuhns formally offered to donate the ferry operation and Maryland landing to Montgomery County, contingent on securing access to the Virginia shoreline. While stakeholders have at times expressed optimism, no agreement has been finalized. A Montgomery County Department of Transportation study estimates that reopening the ferry could generate more than $9 million annually in savings from reduced travel time, congestion, emissions, and safety impacts. Despite the economic and historical significance of the crossing, White’s Ferry remains closed as negotiations continue without resolution.
